Stone Has To Be Replaced

Steve Stone may not play this season, and the gaffa is already looking to the future.

The 34-year-old ruptured his Achilles in his first training session with Leeds following his switch from Portsmouth, but is still in plaster and now requires a third operation in a bid to resolve the problem.

'The prognosis on Steve Stone is still not brilliant so the work has to go into finding a wide right player,' said Blackwell.

'I hope he will play again but it's a situation I find bizarre. He was advised to take the operation, it was a six-week job and he we are now in the middle of December and he's still in plaster.'

Stone developed an infection in the wound following the initial surgery that has prevented it from healing properly.

'We are praying this latest operation will address the situation,' Blackwell added on the club's official website. 'Once the wound closes he can step up his rehab, but at the moment we do not know how well the Achilles has repaired because we cannot work it.'